Reversing mechanism for washing-machines.



No. 637,895. Patented Nov. 28, |899. J. A. HEAMS C. H. SMITH.

REVEBSING MECHANISM FOB WASHING MACHINES.

. (Application filed Aug. 10, 1899.) I (No Model.) 2 vSheets-Sheet l.

N0. 637,895. Patented Nov. 28, |899. J. A. REAMS C H. ASMITH. REVERSING MECHANISM `FOI? WASHING MACHINES.

(Application led A'ug. 10, 1899.)

2 Sheet..-Sheet` 2.

(No Model.)

IIIIIII. IIIIII IIIIIIII IIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIIII WITNESSES NITED STATES PATEN rFrcE.

JOSEPH A. REAMS AND CHARLES Il. SMITH, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE RICHMOND CEDAR VORKS, OF SAME PLACE.

REVERSING MECHANISIVi FOR \N.ASl-lING-ll/ACHINES.h

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,895, dated November 28, 1899.

Application led August l0, 1899. Serial No. 726,838. (No model.)

To all 1071/0711, t may concern.- Y

Beit known that we, JOSEPH A. REAMs and CHARLES I-l. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversing Mechanism for Washing-Machines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to reversing mechanism for washing-machines, and particularly to that class known as rotary Washing-machines.

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple, highly-efi'cient, and durable reversing locking mechanism, whereby alternate rotary motion can be given to a dolly or agitator without jar or impact and without such frictional resistance to reversal as will lend added resistance to the operation of the device; to provide simple and eective means by which the dolly and its post may be lifted, so as to obviate the presentation of an obstruction when the lid of the machine is to be raised; furthermore, to provide means whereby the lid and the dolly and its reversing mechanism may be raised without lifting the ilywheel, and, furthermore, to provide as a new article of manufacture a novel form of casting for supporting the driving-gears, reversing mechanism, and dolly-post, the casting to be of such construction as while not employing a greater heft of metal than usually employed will be stronger and less liable to fracture under use.

With these objects 'in view the invention consists in a novel construction and combination of parts of the operating mechanism for a washing-machine dolly, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, we have illustrated the form of embodiment of our invention, it being understood that other forms and embodiments thereof may be employed without departing from the spirit of the same, and in these drawings- Figure lis a View in perspective displaying a washing-machine embodying our invention, exhibiting the same as it appears when set up for use. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation, partly in section, on au enlarged scale, exhibiting more particularly the connection between the dolly-post and the" dolly. Fig. 3 is a View in perspective displaying the locking-pawl carrying a collar. Fig. 4t is a view in sectional elevation taken in a `vertical line through the collar shown in Fig. 3, displaying the locking-pawl in position, together with the spring for exerting such fr ictional resistance as to cause the pawl when shifted to occupy the desired position. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view in perspective showing the arrangement of a twothrow cam in operative relation with regard to the locking-pawl. Fig. 6 is detail view, in sectional elevation, displaying the sleeve in which the pawl-post is housed. Fig. '7 is a detail perspective View of the spring for holding the pawl in proper position. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the lockingpawl detached from the collar. Fig. 9 is a perspective detail View of the casting which supports the driving-gears and their operating-posts and actuating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the body of an ordinary washing-machine, and 2 the lid. As these parts may be of any approved or preferred construction, a detail description of them is deemed unnecessary. Secured upon the lid 2 is a casting 3, which supports the bevel driving-gears et, 5, and 6, as usual in this form of Washing-machine, and also the driveshaft 7, the latter carrying the ily-wheel S. The drive-shaft is in two parts, each of which carries a clutch member 9 and l0, respectively, the clutch being so constructed as to be readily separable when it is desired to liftthe lid to gain access to the body of the machine. In this instance the member 9, as shown, is provided with a mortise to be engaged by a tenon carried by the other member. This form of clutch, while simple, will be thoroughly eective in use, and in case of damage may be replaced at small cost.

The casting 3 is made in one piece and comprises 'an approximately T- shaped base `l1 and two members 12 and 13, respectively, rising from said base in planes which are at TOO right angles to each other. The two members merge at the top into a bearing 14, through which extends the dolly-post 15. The member 12 is formed with a bearing 1G, in which the drive-shaft 7 is journaled.

The gears 5 and 6 are a counterpart of each other and are mounted upon the sleeve 17, the opposing hub portions 1S of the two gears being each provided with a single ratchettooth 19, the two teeth being oppositely disposed, so that upon the rotation of the shaft 7 in one direction one of the teeth will be engaged by the locking-pawl 2O during practically the complete revolution of the dollypost, and upon the shaft of the lockiugpawl, by mechanism to be presently described, the other tooth will be engaged, thus to lock the other gear to the drive-dolly. As shown in Fig. 6, the sleeve 17 is provided at one end with a square bore 21 and at the opposite en d with a round bore 22, the square bore being engaged by the lower portion of the dolly-post and the circular bore by the upper portion thereof. The dolly 23, which may be of any preferred construction, is secu red to the dollypost in any preferred manner.

The collar 24: is provided `with the spline 25 to engage the keyway 26 in the sleeve, so that the two are caused to move together. The collar is provided withthe lateral opening 27, through which projects the boss 28 on the locking-pawl, a sleeve-spring 29 servingto present the requisite frictional resistance to hold the pawl in proper position. The locking ends 30 and 31 of the pawl are disposed at right angles to the boss, and their ends are oppositely beveled to engage the ratchet-tooth in the respective gears referred to.

The means for shifting the pawl, comprising the two-throw combined stationary cam 32, bolted to the member 13 of the casting, having its cam-surfaces oppositely disposed, whereby to eft'ect a reversal of the movement of the dolly.

In operation when the shaft 7 is rotated the boss of the locking-pawl will ride up on one of the cam-surfaces and throw the locking-pawl into engagement with one of the ratchet-teeth, thereby causing at the time a reverse movement of the dolly. The locking-pawl will hold this particular gear locked to the dolly-shaft until the latter has made approximately a complete revolution, when the boss will ride up upon the opposite cam, and thereby reverse the movement of the dolly.

Should it be desired to lift the lid, it will be only necessaryto draw upward upon the dollypost, which is provided with a handle 33 for this purpose, when the dolly will be lifted and the lid may be thrown back.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Alocking reversingmechanismforwashing-machines, comprising three intermeshed beveled gears, a sleeve upon which the two opposite beveled gears are mounted, said sleeve containing the dolly post, a collar loosely keyed to the sleeve, a locking-pawl housed on the collar and having an outwardextending boss, and a two-throw cam mounted adjacent to the locking-pawl whereby alternately to throw the locking-pawl into and out of engagement with one or other of the ratchetteeth carried by the hubs of the two opposite bevel-gears, substantially as described.

2. A lookin g reversing mechanism for washing-machines, comprising three intermeshed beveled gears, a sleeve upon which the two opposite beveled gears are mounted, said sleeve being provided at one end with a square boreand at the other end with a round bore, a dolly-post having a square and round portion to t within the respective bores, a collar loosely keyed to the sleeve, alocking-pawl housed on the collarand having an outwardextending boss, and a two-throw cam mounted adjacent to the locking-pawl whereby, alternately, to throw the locking-pawl into and out of engagement with one or other of a pair of ratchet-teeth carried by the hubs of the two opposite bevel gears, substantially as described.

3. A locking reversing mechanism for washing-machines, comprising three intermeshed beveled gears, a sleeve upon which the two opposite beveled gears are mounted, said sleeve being provided at one end with a square bore and at the other e'nd with around bore, a dolly-post having a square and round portion to it within the respective bores, a collar loosely keyed to the sleeve, alocking-pawl housed on the collar and having an outwardextending boss, and atwo-throw cam mounted adjacent to the locking-pawl, whereby, alternately, to throw the locking-pawl into and out of engagement with one or other of a pair of ratchet-teeth carried by the hubs of the two opposite bevel-gears and a drive-shaft carrying a clutch the members of which are adapted readily to be separated when the lid of the machine is to be thrown off, substantially as described.

4. A reversing mechanism for washing-machines comprising suitable gearing connected with a dolly-post, means whereby the said gearing may be operated, a casting for supporting the driving mechanism, comprising a T-shaped base portion and two members rising from the base and merging at the top into a bearing, the said members being disposed at an angle of about ninety degrees in relation to each other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We hereunto affix our signatures iu presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. REAMS. CHARLES H. SMITH. 

